UNCLASSIFIED
3737 - 1
EXPRESSED BY THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG INDIAN ASSOCIATIONS BY
PROVIDING A CONTINUED NATIONALITY STATUS AND GUARANTEEING THEM
THE RIGHT TO STAY IN HONG KONG. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DOES NOT
BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GRANT THESE PEOPLE
BRITISH CITIZENSHIP.
BRITISH CITIZENSHIP WOULD ONLY PROVIDE
RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND NOT IN HONG KONG AND
WOULD NOT THEREFORE MEET THE INDIANS' WISH TO STAY IN HONG KONG.
FURTHERMORE IF WE WERE TO GRANT BRITISH CITIZENSHIP TO ONE PART
OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IT WOULD BE DEEPLY RESENTED BY OTHER
SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO OF COURSE CONSTITUTE THE VAST
MAJORITY. THEY MIGHT ARGUE THAT THEY SHOULD ALSO HAVE BRITISH
CITIZENSHIP.
11.
FINALLY THE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THE IN THE
UNLIKELY EVENT OF ANY BRITISH NATIONAL BEING FORCED TO LEAVE HONG
KONG HAVING NOWHERE TO GO WE WOULD EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
DAY TO CONSIDER SYMPATHETICALLY WHETHER TO ADMIT THEM TO THE UK
ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS IN LIGHT OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
12.
YOU MIGHT ALSO FIND IT HELPFUL IN ANY DEALINGS WITH THE
INDIANS TO MAKE THE GENERAL POLITICAL POINT THAT THESE PEOPLE
HAVE NO TIES WITH THE UK AS SUCH, NOR, THEY SAY, ANY WISH TO
EMIGRATE TO THE UK. THEIR TIES ARE ENTIRELY IN HONG KONG, WHERE
THEY ARE WELL INTEGRATED IN THE COMMUNITY AND PLAY AN IMPORTANT
ROLE, ESPECIALLY COMMERCIALLY. WE REGARD OUR PRIME DUTY TO THEM AS BEING TO SECURE THEIR FUTURE IN HONG KONG, AND BELIEVE THAT WE
HAVE DONE SO AS FAR AS IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE. TO OFFER THEM AN
ALTERNATIVE FUTURE IN THE UK, EVEN SUPPOSING IT WERE POSSIBLE,
COULD ACTUALLY UNDERMINE THEIR PROSPECTS IN HONG KONG ONCE IT
COMES UNDER CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY.
13.
A COPY OF THE NATIONALITY ORDER IN COUNCIL FOLLOW BY BAG.
WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD REPORT ANY REACTION TO US IN
DUE COURSE, COPYING TO HONG KONG. INCIDENTALLY, THE TIMES OF INDIA REPORT, ATTACHED TO YOUR LETTER, IS WRONG IN SUGGESTING THAT THERE ARE NO INDIANS ON THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
(BLCC). MR HARI HARILELA, CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG
INDIAN ASSOCIATIONS, IS A MEMBER.
4
UNCLASSIFIED